A Casual Bike Ride to the Seaside Café: Waves, Hot Sandwiches, and Bob Dylan

Hey there, fellow bloggers!

Today, I want to share my recent bike ride adventure with you.

It all started when I noticed beautiful pure white flowers blooming along my neighbour's fence.

With my upcoming regular heart check-up approaching, I decided to take out my bicycle in search of some excuse materials to justify my lack of preparation.

Honestly, I didn't have a specific destination in mind, but I tend to ride along a route with no car traffic, which often leads me to the Okagaki-machi bike path.

As I cycled along the Shioiri River embankment, the scenery transformed completely within a short distance.

The vibrant yellow cosmos flowers of summer were in full bloom!



And not only that, there were pink flowers too. 





The path took me through a small settlement and past an old sign marking the former Oka-Agata Village Office on an empty plot of land.

Now, here's where things get interesting.

As I continued riding along the coastline, I couldn't decide which way to go.

And then, I spotted something that had caught my attention for a while – motorcycles parked in front of a café.

This café had been featured in YouTube videos and seemed to be a popular spot for young people, with several large bikes and road bikes lined up.

Despite this, I always rode past it without stopping, admiring the illustrations on the breakwater while wondering about the place.

The café's name is "Hatoba Chaya," and through the glass windows facing the sea, I could see customers inside.

It looked like there was an empty seat by the window.

Curiosity was piqued, and I decided to step inside.

I had never tried a hot sandwich before.

I wondered if it was the type where they put the sandwich in a metal contraption and grilled it?

So, I ordered a "Deep fried Snapper Hot Sandwich" and a cup of "Deep Roast Coffee" to warm up.

Sitting by the window, I had a breathtaking view of the sea.

In the distance, I could see the sandy beach stretching from Okagaki Coast towards Ashiya Town, adorned with lush greenery from Sanri Matsubara.

Right in front, across the sea, were the Doyama and  Doyama peninsulas, followed by the distant hills of Tohmi-no-Hana and the Lighthouse.

Separated by the sea on the northern side, I could glimpse the shadow of an island that served as a fuel storage base.

Even further in the distance, the hazy outline of mountains near Shimonoseki came into view.

The calm sea surface was almost too peaceful, with gentle waves shifting and changing as the wind passed through.

I had never experienced such a view of the sea before.



As I sat there, I could hear the sizzling sound of fried food and the grinding of coffee beans.

I tried to focus on the scenery but couldn't help overhearing a conversation between a mom and a customer.

It seemed that their shared interest was the guitar, and they started discussing the song "Blowin' in the Wind" by Bob Dylan.

Sipping my coffee, I couldn't help but imagine Bob Dylan's distinctive and raspy voice singing "The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind" in my head.

Just when I was lost in this moment, the person sitting next to me alerted me that a bike had fallen over outside.

"Oh no, it got blown over by the wind, just like the song!" they said.

After enjoying a leisurely time at the café, I left feeling relaxed.

I decided that today's destination would be Ashiya Town, and I planned to ride along the Sanri Matsubara cycling path.

As I passed by the front of the Lin Lin Club Okagaki, I noticed a cute bicycle parking area that had been recently installed.



Well, this must be for serious bike parking, right?



The cycling path overlooking the sandy beach was also adorned with beautiful flowers.



I wondered if this was the area I had observed from the Hatoba-Chatenn coffee café.





Sea daffodils were blooming here and there.



The deep purple of the beach peas was also stunning.

After riding for a while, I came across a banner indicating that "Asagi-Madara" (Chestnut Tiger) butterflies were gathering.

I went back a bit and climbed up to have a look, but perhaps the sunlight was too strong as I couldn't spot any "Asagi-Madara" butterflies.

Access to the beach is restricted here because sea turtles lay their eggs.

I continued my ride all the way to Ashiya Town and took a restroom break.

On the wall, I noticed this sign:

Touring through the streets of Ashiya Town seemed a bit troublesome, so I decided to retrace my steps on the same cycling path.

Although I couldn't see it on the way there, I wondered if by any chance...

So, I went to the beach to find out.

There were only a few of them, but "Asagi-Madara" butterflies were frolicking among the flowers in the sea breeze.

It seems like people are walking around as well.

I captured their graceful dance on my smartphone video and began my journey back.

And that concludes my delightful bike ride adventure.

It was a day filled with beautiful scenery, tasty food, and unexpected encounters.

I can't wait to explore more of the scenic routes and hidden gems on my next cycling trip.

Stay tuned for more exciting adventures to come!